Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-14
THE CHAIN GANG GUARD.

LIE tllAlN UlNN ut ARll
The noon-tid sun of a hot summer ,lsr
beat tlcrccly down upon the cnuviCts a
work IN the apparently bOundlesS cottor
field that belonged TO Col Jefferson Clay
| Ii was large plantation. and was nj
most entirely worked 10y "A force Of chair
gang conviCts, leased 10 Col. Clay by tn,
state authorities
As the sun reached the meridian it,
rays came down so pitileSSly. and witt
such sCorching fervor. that the fom
.GardS who kept watch over the mlser-
| able CoUviCtS were compelled To seek shell
ter under the few scattered pines which
dotted little knobs in different parts oi
the field.
LaZily reclining on the grass. the guards
| played with their battered old muskets,
and kept keen lookout for the slightest
indication Of tagging work or inSuhorii-
nation ON the part Of the eighty prisoners
! who were engaged in hoeing cotton.
There was little danger Of the cOnviCts
escaping. \ heavy ball and chain were
attached 10 each man and il was difficult
to make much headway. The guards
were always yiGilant, and when it was
necessary they had a pack of trained
hloodhOundS in reserve for the pursuit and
capture uf fugitivcS.
suddenly one of the guards looked at his
watch
Dinner timeN' he exclaimed. and rails
ing whistle 10 his lips he blew a keen
blast, which was heard all q rer the field
The effect was magical Evcry hoe fell
To the ground. and four squa is OF convicts
were soon sitting i'll the shade devOuring
their scanty rations of corn bread. bacon
and greens Forgetting their miSeries for
time, these unfurtunates reyeled In the
enjoyment of their rude repast. The
clinking of their chains was intersperSed
with bursts of hoarse laughter over an &C
casional Joke. such jokes as are never
heard outside of a chain G:iug camp.
During the progress of the meal one Of
the guards was attracted 10y the peculiar
conduct of a prisoner in one Of the squads.
Approaching him the guard said in a sRrly
tone:
See here, Joe, no shamming now; il
won't do, You know. No sickness al
lowed in this camp
The convict looked up with start,
looked into the cruel eyes of cruel face.
and saw no mercy there
Curse yOu,' he snarled. 81 wonder if
you have a heart.
Think | have replied the other non
chalantly, but that has nothing to do
with your case. my friend. Our worthy
host. Col. Clay, is of the opinion that a
convict never gets siCk-he only shams-
and as his instructions are 10 punish every
case Of shamming with thirty nine laShes.
well laid on, have nothing To do but 10
obey orders. You understand
The convict looked up into the face Of
his guard
The guard looked down into the lace of
the convict.
Tall and erect, youthful and handsome,
making allowance for the cruel eyes and
face. the guard, despite his rough jeans
suit, looked like n man who had seen bet
ter days. And his history did not run
counter TO his appearance Five years lie
f0ro Dick Macon had been one of the
spoiled darlings of society The gaming
table and the wine cup had sent him down
at headlong speed to his present level;
had reduced him to the necessity Of ac-
ccpting the position Of chain gang guard
on jefferson Clay's convict plantation.
The prisoner. whose Keen black eyes
were scanning the relentless face above
him, was a middle aged man. whose slight
frame showed that he was i'll fitted TO bear
the hardships of his situation. His rest
less eyes. haggard face. trembling hands
and husky voice would have awakened
pity as well as contempt in the breast of
almost any obs .rr"r.
There was nothing novel in the spec
tacle to Dick Macon. however. and bring I.
ing his muskrt down with a vicious
thump he said:
You'd better take care, Joe-you'll get .
a licking before night if you don't get .
about your work quicker"
Joe bowed his head and mItteFed:
Twenty thousand dollars. and | was
fool enough TO think Of giving him half. /
| Il hide my time. ~
Whats thats" asked Dick Macon
quickly.
Nothing" answered Joe, with his
head still bent down.
joe" said the guard.
Well" was the snappish response.
Il want to know. YOU rascal. what you
meant by your alluSion TO S2o.00
''Oh, it was nothing. replied the other.
at was mere madness on my part. |
meant that | would give half of the SEQ
b)) that | have securely hidden away if |
,ould once get out of this blastc,ld lace"
''YOu living scoundrel" laughed the
guard. ''do you think you can make me
tumble 10 that sort ut racket, You never
lad 100000 i'll your life
Liar. Yourself shouted Joe. with
sudden flash Of fire in his wolfish eyes
What am here for, Dick Macon;''
''Humph.' said Dick, murder, l be-
ieye"
Correct. " returned the convict. ''Mur-
Ter il WIS. | was convicted on circum-
tantial evidence, and owing to that fact
saved my neck. and was sent up for
ife. But with that murder was con
lected-a robbery When old Henderson
vas killed he had on his person money
md valuable jewels amounting 10 a small
Ortune
The guard looked at the other convicts.
They were a little distance off, quarrel
NJ over their ratiOns.
go on. said he
Did You ever hear that the plunder
vas found:' asked Joe, with Il cunning
eer
Don't know that | ever did" said
Dick. ''but still it may have been found
Not by -- sight answered Joe
With great energy. The booty is safe
nough. and could lay my hand on ii in
orty-aignt hours if could just get out of
his cursed camp
''What Will you give for freedom -
Isked Dick with a provoking grin.
Half - cried the prisoner Ten
thousand dollars to the man who releases
ne from this Internal place and puts me
ocyOnd pursuit - and he looked eagerly
nto the guard insCrutahlc face.
Dick Macon whistlcd lively tune,
urned as if To walk off. and thea wheeled .
lbruptly about.
Take couple Of buckets. you lazy
louchy' he shouted 10 the convict. Il !
must have some fresh water here, and we
nu t go to the spring 10 get il. | say,
gill. he called to one Of the other guards,
= just bring your gang over here. and
watch my pets while 20 for some water
Bill did As directed, and Joe, laden with
wo empty buckets, limped along in the
Erection of the spring, closely followed
" Dick Macon. with his mUshet thrown
over his arm.
The spring was about 300 yar.lS from